NL1044765B1 - Energy efficient catering refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

ENERGY EFFICIENT CATERING REFRIGERATOR The present invention relates to the field of refrigeration units, in particular energy efficient catering refrigerators for bars, pubs and/or restaurants. Cooling beer kegs can be time consuming. From the point of view of cooling time it would be desirable to cool down the beer kegs faster without the risk of freezing up of the beer hoses that are running from keg to tap. If these beer hoses freeze, there is no possibility anymore to draft beer via the tap column. This means that the sales or turnover of draft beer is stopped, which is a major disaster in a bar/pub The energy efficient catering refrigerator according to the present invention provides a solution that enables blowing very cold air on the surface of beer kegs without the risk to cause freezing in the beer hoses.

Description

ENERGY EFFICIENT CATERING REFRIGERATOR

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of refrigeration units, in particular energy efficient catering refrigerators.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For example, cooling beer kegs in a bar or restaurant, can be cumbersome and/or time consuming. From the point of view of cooling time it would be desirable to cool down the beer kegs by blowing very cold air that impinges the kegs directly.

However, if the temperature of the air is below -4 degrees Celsius , that may cause freezing up of the beer hoses. These hoses are running from keg to tap.

When these beer hoses freeze, there Is no possibility anymore to draft beer via the tap column. This means that the sales or turnover of draft beer is stopped, which is a major disaster in a kar/pub

So Tar, in conventional catering refrigerators the cooling air is blown from the cooling unit into the bottom section of the refrigerator, which in terms of cooling effectiveness and efficiency is not the most preferred mode. Hence, the present invention applies a reversed cooling air flow direction as compared to the prior art methods and devices,

BRIEF DESCRIPTION QF THE DRAWING

The objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

- FIG, 1 shows a schematic section through an embodiment of an energy efficient refrigerator according to the invention. In this embodiment the refrigerator ~ comprises a cooling space 1 and an enclosure 2 with the components of the cooling unit of the catering refrigerator according to the invention, in the figures, identical or similar parts have been designated with identical or similar reference numbers,

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIG. 1 an embodiment of the high efficiency refrigerator according to the present invention comprises at least two separate enclosures, Le. a cooling space 1 and an enclosure 2 with the main components of the cooling unit of the refrigerator. =

In this embodiment, with the help of a diffuser 31, the cooled air, depicted by the arrows 3, is blown into the cooling space 1 through the window 32 in the vicinity of the top of the cooling space 1 by one or mate fans 5. After absorbing energy from Items inside the tooling space 1 that need to be cooled the air returns to the zogijng unit in enclosure 2 through the return window 31 along the path depicted schematically by the arrows 4, As showr the return window 41 is closer to the bottom section of the cooling space. In various preferred embodiments of the refrigerator according to the invention the surface area of the return window 41 ís approximately twice the surface area of the window 32 through which the cooled air is blown into the cooling space 1. The surface area of the return window 41 can be adjusted by modification of the size of the sheet 7, which also . prevents direct recirculation of air, In the embodiment shown in FIG, 1 the compressor 8 uf the cooling unit is located in the bottom part of the enclosure 2. 253 After entering the enclosure 2, the return air 4 fs routed through the evaporator B of the cooling unit before being blown again into the top part of the cooling space 1.

In various embodiments the catering refrigerator according to the invention comprises modular cooling units which facilitate the repair and/or replacement of a defective cooling unit. Catering refrigerators with a modular cooling unit as such are not new, However, the combination of a high efficiency catering refrigerator according to the present invention and a modular cooling unit is novel. - in various embodiments of the energy efficient catering refrigerator the diffuser 31 and the sheets 7 and 7a have been integrated into one ‘deflector’, which is an important distinguishing feature of the refrigerator according to the invention.

In addition to the hardware characteristics that enable the air flow described above, the invention also comprises advanced controls for optimization of the efficiency of the cooling unit.

As described above, the invention may especially be embodied in the following embodiments, wherein the embodiments are merely numbered for reference reasons. 1. An efficient method of operating a catering refrigerator comprising a first 18 enclosure also referred to as a cooling space (1) at least partially separated from a second enclosure {2}, wherein, the method comprises blowing cold air from a cooling unit located in the second enclosure through an air inlet window 32 inta the top of the cooling space and returning the air via the bottom section of the cooling space {1} through an air return window 41 to the cooling unit inside the second enclosure. 2, A catering refrigerator comprising an enclosed cooling space {1} and a cooling unit jn a separate enclosure (2), wherein, cooled air is blown by a Tan (5) into the top of the cooling space {1} guided by a diffuser (31) and through a window (32) and 7 return air enters into the cooling machine enclosure {2} through a return window {41) followed by passage through an evaporator {6} before repeating the cycle through the cooled space {1). 3. The catering refrigerator according to embodiment 2, wherein, the diffuser (31) is integrated with two cover sheets {7,72} into one single deflector,

4. The catering refrigerator according to embodiment 2 or 3, wherein the surface area of the air return window (41) is essentially twice the surface area of the air inlet window {32}.

The term “comprise” includes also embodiments wherein the term “comprises” means “consists of”. The term “and/or” especially relates to one or more of the items mentioned before and after “and/or”. For instance, a phrase “item 1 and/or item 2” and similar phrases may relate to one or more of item 1 and item 2. The term “comprising” may in an embodiment refer to “consisting of” but may in another emhadiment also refer to “containg at least the defined species and optionally one or more other species”.

While only certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art, It is, therefore, ta be understood that the appended claims are intended to caver all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the Invention. ft should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. Use of the verb “to comprise” and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a clair, The article “a” or “an” preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.

In a device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embadied by ong and the same tem of hardware.

Claims (4)

CONCLUSIONS 1. An efficient method for operating a commercial refrigeration device, which device comprises a first at least partially enclosed space {1} which is at least partially separated from an at least partially enclosed second space {2}, characterized in that the method comprises blowing cold air {3} from a cooling device located in the second space {2} into the top of the first space {1}, which air is returned via the bottom section of the first space {1). 2. A commercial refrigeration unit comprising a modular cooling machine, characterized in that the refrigeration unit comprises a first at least partially closed space {1} which is at least partially separated from an at least partially closed second space {2) with a fan {5} disposed therein which is designed to blow cold air into the top of the first space {1} through an air inlet window {32} under the guidance of a diffuser = {31}, whereby the return air enters the second space {2} again through a return window {41}, followed by a passage through an evaporator {6}, after which the cycle through the first space {1) is repeated. The commercial cooking device according to claim 2, characterized in that the diffuser (31) is integrated with two cover plates (17, 72) to form a single air guide profile. 4. The commercial refrigeration apparatus of claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the area of the air inlet window {32} is substantially half of the area of the return window {41}, # 28 1044765 =